South Florida fishing report

[Sam]

Captain Jimbo Thomas of the Thomas Flyer out of Bayside Marina reported outstanding offshore action taking place outside of Government Cut. Huge schools of small baitfish have been migrating along the southeast coast gathering the attention of every offshore gamefish in the area.

Thomas reported lots of kingfish in the 5-to-10-pound range, and bonito, arctic bonito, sailfish, dolphin and blackfin tuna up to 35 pounds were caught by his anglers while fishing out of Government Cut from an anchored boat in 120 feet of water. They were using live pilchards and threadfin herring for bait.


MIAMI DADE/BROWARD

Brian Sculthorpe, Chris Maguire and Graves Fromang, each of whom is from the west coast of Florida, teamed to catch a 414-pound swordfish off of Miami at night in 1,200 feet of water. The fight lasted a little more than three hours on 80-pound tackle. Their captain was Dean Panos on the Double D out of Miami. Fishing offshore out of Light House Pointe, Jake Tutan caught a 7-pound mutton snapper on a live pilchard fished on the bottom. Jake was fishing with his father, Jeff. Captain Jorge Valverde of Low Places Guiding Service reported that his clients have been seeing large amounts of bonefish almost every day while fishing in South Biscayne Bay.The only thing stopping his anglers from having banner days has been the wind. Large schools of tarpon have been moving along the oceanside flats of South Biscayne Bay.


KEYS

Rick Berry out of Islamorada reported that captain Tim Klein, fishing out of Islamorada, had a catch of 23 bonefish in one day, 22 of which were caught out of a school that had between 600 to 800 fish. Captain William Hauck of the Sea King party boat out of Marathon has been catching quite a few flag yellowtail and some nice mangrove snappers fishing the reefs.Captain Ralph Delph out of Key West reported that close to Key West, tuna, bonitos, some wahoo, sailfish and good-sized dolphin have been available for those floating baits.

A few nice black grouper have been caught by those willing to fight the strong currents on the deeper reefs, and on the reefs closer in, a good amount yellowtail snapper have been biting. Captain Lain Goodwin of Dirty Water Charters out of Key Largo reported nighttime tarpon fishing is ready to take off, and the tarpon will be feeding on whatever baits are being flushed through the channels, such as crabs, shrimp and mullet. Matching the bait is the key to scoring with the silver kings.


TREASURE COAST

Captain Charlie Conner of Fish Tales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported that the redfish are holding on shallow flats in small schools and hitting live baits, soft plastics and twitchin baits.Around the bridges, snook fishing has been spotty, but snook have been hitting during early mornings on the flats and trout fishing has slowed. Henry Camiotto of the Snook Nook out of Jensen Beach reported a lot of dolphin of all sizes from 80 to 120 feet of water and nice kings in in 80 feet of water, along with some wahoo. For those who fish baits on a downrigger, a few bluefish remain along the beaches and loads of whiting, with snook feeding right under the whiting. Large tarpon have been seen from the condos as they move along the beach.


FLORIDA BAY

Jerry Chaves and Tom Singer teamed up to catch three snook up to 13 ½ pounds, sea trout, jacks, ladyfish and bluefish fishing in Florida Bay with Hook Up lures and Gulp shrimp and live pilchards. Nicole Dennison and Karen Batson from Illinois caught four snook, two redfish, trout, mackerel and goliath grouper up to 20 pounds. Their captain was Ariel Cabrera of Hooked on Fishing charters.
Warren Russel of Falls Church, Va., went seven out of 11 on snook fishing in Florida Bay with captain Kerry Wingo of Key Largo.


SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Jeff Lugutki out of Naples reported that fishing for snook, trout and redfish has been outstanding, with water temperatures steadily climbing.
Tarpon in the 70-to-130 pound class have moved into the area in big numbers and are feeding on the falling tides.

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